Junior Edina, Wei, and Lin arrived at the Shining Blade Sect with Princess Huangshu. As they entered the main hall, all the staff bowed deeply to the princess. At the entrance of the grand hall stood Xu Lian, dressed in luxurious clothing befitting the event.
"It is an honor to be in the presence of the little phoenix of our great empire," Xu Lian said, bowing gracefully.
Princess Huangshu nodded and replied, "Rise."
With the formalities over, Xu Lian guided Princess Huangshu and her company into the hall. As they walked, Xu Lian attempted to probe for information, saying, "I can't believe you have rescued the missing young master and mistresses, Your Highness. I am very grateful."
Princess Huangshu, however, did not rise to the bait. "Make sure they are comfortable. They have been through a lot these past few days." She then turned to Edina and added with a smile, "Remember your promise, Edina. I will be waiting at the entrance of the sect this evening."
At that moment, the guards of the Blazing Dawn Sect, who were supposed to protect Wei, Edina, and Lin, came rushing forward. They bowed deeply and said, "We are honored to see the young master and mistresses safe! Please punish us for our failure."
Junior Edina, initially startled by their fervor, quickly calmed down and walked towards Huangshu. Wei, on the other hand, was less forgiving. "I hope you are! How can you be such absolute morons? Wait till Mother hears about this!"
Lin chimed in, echoing her brother's sentiment, "Yeah! Just you wait!"
With that, everyone was led to their rooms, the atmosphere a mix of relief and lingering tension. The staff hurried to ensure the young master and mistresses comfort, while Xu Lian watched, her mind racing with unanswered questions and the need to adapt her plans.
Inside her room, Junior Edina found Lian Hua, her new personal maid after Xiao Min. The moment Lian Hua saw her, she rushed forward and enveloped Edina in a tight hug. "Young Mistress Edina! I am so glad you are safe!" Lian Hua exclaimed, her voice trembling with relief. She had been sitting right next to her mistress when the captors kidnapped her, making Edina's safe return all the more poignant.
Junior Edina returned the embrace, though she struggled to stand firmly. "Yes, yes, I'm alright," she reassured, her voice soft but steady.
Jinwei Mansion, Blazing Dawn Sect, Gunghua Province
The staff of Jinwei Mansion were fidgeting around the courtyard, their unease palpable. Some tried to busy themselves with work to avoid being near the tense atmosphere, while others glanced nervously towards the dark room that had been repurposed for storage by Young Mistress Edina. Among them was Mei Lin, the new head maid of Jinwei Mansion after Xiao Min, cold sweat trickling down her forehead.
The reason for such distress in Jinwei Mansion was very valid. Two days ago, news of the abduction of the Young Master and Mistresses had sent shockwaves through the sect. Since then, Mistress Li Mei Cha Mu for whatever reason had been a constant presence in the mansion, her demeanor unsettling. She sat in the dark room with a dazed expression, her aura menacing. This room, which Young Mistress Edina had once transformed for storage, had now become the epicenter of anxiety.
Having a hostile 7th-grade martial artist in a trance-like state in their backyard was enough to make anyone uneasy, and Mei Lin was no exception. She desperately wanted this ordeal to be over. The oppressive atmosphere and the constant threat of Mistress Li Mei's unpredictable wrath made her wish she could be anywhere else.
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When Mei Lin saw Chuang Chi, the administrative staff of Mu Mansion and a disciple of Sect Leader Liang Feng, rushing in, she quickly intercepted her. “Stop right there! Mistress Li Mei has forbidden anyone from entering!” she commanded, following the orders given to her.
Chuang Chi halted and nodded, then announced, “Message from Shining Blade Sect! Young Master Wei, Young Mistress Lin, and Young Mistress Edina are safe! According to the report, the little phoenix of our empire, Princess Zhou Huangshu, has rescued them!”
The moment the words reached Li Mei’s ears inside the former dark room, the sliding door burst open with a bang. Li Mei strode out, Qi circulating visibly around her, and declared, “Ready the horses! I want to search every corner of Zunzon road for the bandits who dared to kidnap my children!” Her fury was palpable; she was ready to hunt down every bandit in the forest near Zunzon road to send a clear message about the consequences of crossing her. When she first heard of her children’s abduction, her hands were tied, but now that they were safe, she could unleash her full wrath.
Chuang Chi bowed her head and rushed back to relay the orders. Li Mei followed closely behind, her determination evident in every step. Mei Lin finally sighed with relief. After being on edge for two days, she could finally breathe easy.
Inside Upper Mount Hua Sect, Mount Hua Peak, Hua Province,
Lu Shun slowly opened his dark black eyes, looking up at the ceiling and feeling the softness of the bed beneath him. He remembered fainting just as he was about to reach the gates of the upper sect, leading him to believe that he must have been brought back to the outer sect where those who failed the test were taken. He sighed, feeling a mixture of disappointment and frustration.
“That’s quite the response for someone who passed the test,” a familiar voice came from the side. Lu Shun recognized the voice instantly, but he was more focused on the surprising statement. “I passed? Is it true, Grandma?”
The woman sitting on a chair near his bed nodded. “Of course you passed, brat. You fainted and fell just inside the gates of the upper sect. I can’t believe you decided to take the test even though you haven’t even broken through to grade 2.”
This was Chen Feng Ling, Elder Yang Feng Ling of Mount Hua’s wife, the mother of Qin Cha Ling, Lu Shun’s mother. Lu Shun’s maternal grandmother. Her presence was both comforting and intimidating, as she was known for her strictness and high expectations.
Lu Shun managed a weak smile, feeling a mix of relief and pride. “I couldn’t let this opportunity slip by just because I am still grade 1, Grandma. The Dragon and Phoenix Tournament is too important.”
Chen Feng Ling’s stern expression softened slightly. “I understand your determination, Lu Shun. But you must be cautious. Pushing yourself beyond your limits can be dangerous. Now, rest and regain your strength. You’ll need it for the challenges ahead.”
Lu Shun nodded, closing his eyes briefly, feeling the exhaustion from his ordeal catching up with him. “Thank you, Grandma. I’ll be careful.”
Grandma Chen Feng Ling stood up and gently patted his shoulder. “Good. Remember, the path of a martial artist is long and arduous, but with perseverance and wisdom, you will succeed.”
Lu Shun beamed with happiness, the realization that he had actually succeeded in reaching the top of the mountain filling him with pride. As his grandmother reached the door, she turned and added, “Also, it seems you might just break through to grade 2.”
Lu Shun’s eyes widened in surprise and excitement. He had been feeling a rush of lifeforce within him, a clear sign that his body was ready to refine it into Qi. This indicated that his capacity for Qi was about to increase, marking a significant milestone in his martial arts journey.
Feeling the energy coursing through him, Lu Shun knew he needed to act. He focused inward, beginning the process of cultivating and transforming the lifeforce into Qi, storing it in his heart. With each breath, he felt the Qi accumulating, his body responding to the discipline and training he had undergone.
Determined to seize this moment, Lu Shun entered a deep meditative state, focusing all his efforts on refining the lifeforce. The room around him faded away as he immersed himself in the process, his mind and body working in harmony to achieve the breakthrough.
Hours passed, but to Lu Shun, it felt like mere moments. As he opened his eyes, he felt a profound change within him. The breakthrough to grade 2 was complete, his body now capable of holding more Qi, ready for the challenges ahead.
With a sense of accomplishment and renewed determination, Lu Shun knew that this was just the beginning. The path of a martial artist was indeed long and arduous, but he was ready to face it with perseverance and wisdom, just as his grandmother had advised.